Report: Cowboys want to rest Barber

Citing an anonymous source, ESPN.com reported Friday that the Cowboys are “leaning toward” holding injured RB Marion Barber out of Monday night’s game against Carolina.

Barber has had limited participation in the team’s three workouts this week. Earlier this week, Wade Phillips suggested Barber would be a game-time decision.

ESPN.com said its source reports that Barber desperately wants to play, but the Cowboys believe Felix Jones and Tashard Choice can handle the job. That’s an opinion shared by Panthers MLB Jon Beason.

Dallas leads the league in rushing with a 184.5 average. Barber is the team’s workhorse back, averaging 6.3 yards per carry. He had 18 carries for 124 yards and a touchdown in the 33-31 loss to New York last Sunday night.

“I don’t see a big difference between Choice and Barber,” Carolinagrowl.com quoted Beason as saying. “I think Barber is a great running back, but I know Choice from college and he runs just as hard. They don’t lose much at that position.

No matter who carries the ball, Carolina still has to deal with the Cowboys’ massive offensive line, which has been dominant through two games.

“They probably have the biggest offensive line in the league,” Beason told Carolinagrowl.com. “Those guys are run-blockers and that is what they want to do. We have to go out there and bring it to them. We have to use our speed to our advantage and they’re going to use their size. They’re going to come right after us. It’s part of their game plan to try to come in and run the ball, try to pound us.”

Barber injured his left quad at the end of a 35-yard run in the fourth quarter against New York.